Anxious about our twins starting nursery
I knew this day would come, but I never anticipated that it would come so soon.
I’ve had my girls at home with me for over three years, but the time has come for them to start nursery in September and I have mixed emotions about it.
I think it will be good for them in terms of improving their independence and also helping them to make friends and form relationships, but even so it’s made me feel sad that they’ll no longer be home with me all of the time.
I hate to think of them upset when I leave them at nursery. I hate to think of them crying and being comforted by a stranger.
I worry that they won’t like nursery or that they’ll feel scared, lonely and confused.
I worry about them getting picked on or worse getting hurt. I hate the thought of not being there to always protect them.
Our girls aren’t ones to stand up for themselves. They do with each other of course, but if a stranger takes a toy off them or pushes them they’d let them.
I know that over time they’d get used to it, but they just seem too young and so small to be starting nursery already.
I’ve only had them for just over three years and now I have to trust a stranger with them. That stranger will have plenty of experience in looking after children. After all she’ll be their teacher, but I don’t know her.
Why does it have to be so hard?
That very first day that I leave them for them for the first time at nursery is going to be so tough.
7 Comments
Bek Dillydrops
July 23, 2015 at 10:13 am
I went through this with my son and my daughter, even though they have a four and a bit year gap between them. It is always hard leaving them for the first time but it does get better. If they cry when you leave them, Nursery staff are very good at helping to distract them. It's only usually a few minutes that they are upset then they get on with having fun. It is an exciting time for them. They will make lots of new friends and they will start to practice sticking up for themselves. I'm sure that they will love their time there. And you will soon get used to the routine until you get to the point where you drop them off then feel like you are picking them up again straight away as the days go so quickly! I hope that it all goes better than you imagine it will xxx.
Emily
July 23, 2015 at 9:55 pm
Hi Bek, thanks for your comment. It's reassuring to hear that it does get better. I'm sure over time it will. I think it's just getting over the initial first hurdle of doing it for the first time if that makes sense! After watching our girls play independently and confidently with other children at a farm today, that's made me feel more comfortable that they'll make friends and be happy as they have each other too x
Philippa Tyrer
July 23, 2015 at 2:47 pm
I hated the idea of my twins starting pre-school,too. One thing I did find though is that compared to my older children they at least had each other to rely on when I wasn't there. I also found that I got to hear a lot about what had happened during the day – they love to tell tales on each other ;). Good luck, I'm sure they and you will be fine. x
Emily
July 23, 2015 at 9:56 pm
Hi Philippa, thanks for your comment. That's the one thing that I think is making me feel more comfortable – that they do have each other x
Angela Milnes
July 24, 2015 at 3:16 pm
I used to be on the other side of the coin when i was the Nursery Teacher/Head of Kindy! Its hard at the start, expeically if you have never left the kids but they do get used to it very quickly. I guess the plus side is the girls will have each other and the teachers are cb checked and safe but yes it can be an anxious situation for parents… Sometimes with the young ones they would cry as the parent left and as soon as the parent was gone they would be fine and happy and play , then when the parent comes back they cry again… to say.. you left! but really they had a fabulous time!
Angela from daysinebed.com
Emily
July 24, 2015 at 8:51 pm
Hi Angela, thanks for your comment. It is hard at the start. I'm sure a year from now it'll be absolutely fine and they won't even look back! I'm glad they have each other as you say, that's definitely reassuring x
Sarah Herniman
July 24, 2015 at 9:48 pm
Oh I'm already dreading nursery and he's only 14 months! I'm sure it hits us more than them lol! Good luck with it, hope it goes well x